Politics has become trade of self-interest amid rising market of plate-hopping politicians: Shiv Sena (UBT) in 'Saamana'

Shiv Sena UBT on Friday criticised the growing trend of political defections in the country alleging that politics has increasingly become driven by personal ambition rather than ideology loyalty or commitment to votersIn an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana the Uddhav Thackerayled party argued that elected representatives are frequently abandoning the parties on whose symbols they won elections undermining the trust placed in them by votersThe editorial comes amid reports of several leaders distancing themselves from the Trinamool Congress TMC following the partys poor performance in the recent West Bengal Assembly electionsEditorial questions growing culture of defectionsThe editorial argued that voters cast their ballots based on a partys ideology leadership and election symbol expecting their representatives to remain committed to those principlesHowever it claimed that many politicians switch political allegiances soon after elections in pursuit of power influence or personal gainAccording to the party such developments have transformed politics into what it described as a trade of selfinterest where ideology often takes a back seat to political convenienceThe editorial used the phrase platehopping politicians to describe leaders who frequently change parties depending on the prevailing political climateSaayoni Ghosh cited as example of political opportunismThe Saamana editorial devoted significant attention to reported developments involving Trinamool Congress leader Saayoni GhoshAccording to the article Ghosh had emerged as one of the prominent faces of the TMC during the West Bengal Assembly election campaign earning attention for her speeches and strong criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPThe editorial noted that she had often praised TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and projected herself as one of the partys outspoken leadersIt alleged that recent political developments within the TMC had raised questions about the loyalty of several leaders who had previously presented themselves as staunch supporters of the party leadershipReference to earlier criticism of political defectionsThe editorial also referred to previous instances of political defections and highlighted what it described as contradictions in public positions taken by political leadersIt claimed that leaders who once criticised defections and questioned the morality of switching parties are themselves becoming part of similar political realignmentsAccording to the article this reflects a broader trend in which political ideology is increasingly overshadowed by electoral calculations and personal ambitionsThe Shiv Sena UBT argued that such shifts have contributed to public disillusionment with politics and political institutionsMaharashtras politics also under scrutinyThe editorial extended its criticism to Maharashtra claiming that the state has witnessed a growing number of political defections and realignments in recent yearsAccording to the party these developments have fundamentally altered the states political landscape and encouraged a culture where changing political loyalties is viewed as an acceptable strategy for political survivalThe article argued that opportunistic politics has become so widespread that partyswitching is no longer considered unusual regardless of ideological differences between political formationsConcerns over erosion of political valuesThe Saamana editorial further contended that the rise of defections reflects a gradual erosion of political values and ideological commitmentIt argued that many contemporary politicians are willing to align themselves with any political formation if it offers a path to power or influenceAccording to the party this trend has weakened public confidence in elected representatives and made it increasingly difficult for voters to distinguish between competing political ideologiesWarning over declining public trustConcluding its commentary Shiv Sena UBT warned that the continued rise of political defections could further damage public trust in democratic institutionsThe party maintained that elected representatives owe a responsibility to the voters who elected them and should remain committed to the principles and platforms on which they sought public supportThe editorial argued that frequent partyswitching risks reducing politics to a contest of personal interests rather than a forum for ideological debate and public service ultimately weakening the quality of democratic governanceWith inputs from IANS